Improvement in piano-actions



r F. KflTi-l.

v Piano Actions. "No. 143,986. Patented0ct .28.1873* Tune of iddy.

AM FHJTO-ll/WOEMP/l/C 60. M X osaaausS PROCESS) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK KOTH, OF NORTH NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT lN PIANO-ACTIONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 143,986, dated October 28, 1873 application filed July 11, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK Kori-I, a resident of North New York, Westchester county and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Piano-Forte Actions, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to produce an action whereby uniform stroke can be made throughout the key-board, and the power of the hammers, treble, and bass, be adjusted correctly, and also to produce quickness or repeating of stroke, so that the hammers may be brought to the strings more than once before the key returns to its normal condition, and strokes be repeated in quick succession, whether the key is up or down; and my invention consists in combining with the hammerbutts of a piano-forte action a lever or pivoted plate, with proper regulating-screw and spring, an extra plate as a basis for regulating-screw and spring; also, in making the hammer-butts of a peculiar shape to assist the lever in its operation.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a piano-forte action with my improvement. Fi 2 is a perspective view of the improvement alone. i Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the improved hammer-butt alone. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the lever or pivoted plate alone.

A is the key-lever; B, the fly with 0 fast ened to key A. l) is the regulating-screw to fly, preventing too far upward motion. E is the flange; F, hammer; Gr, hammer-rod. All these parts are old, and constructed about in the usual form. 11 is the hammer-butt, shaped as shown in Fi 3, with cushion I curved around projection J, and cushioned also at K. L is the base-plate, for screw M and spring N. Said plate L is screwed fast to butt by screw at O. P is the lever pivoted to hammer-butt at B, and cushioned underneath at S.

By forcing the screw M downward or upward as desired, the lever at P may be forced against the end of the fly B or away from the fly, as required, the spring N holding the lever P against the screw at the other end, as shown. The fly B, when in use, strikes first against the cushion I of hammer-butt H, and, after completing the stroke, glances oft upon cushion S, which causes the lever to give or press upward at that end, relieving the pressure of the hammer against the string, allowin the hammer to fall back away from the string about one-fourth of an inch, although the key may remain down at its outer end, and enabling the performer to strike again, repeating as many times as he may choose without even allowing the key to return. By this arrangement and improvement a supportingbar to the keys is dispensed with.

Repeating may be performed at any position the key.

The force of stroke will be regulated so that no more power is required for bass than treble, and the pressure requisite upon the keys is regulated, so that it will be precisely the same throughout the whole action, no matter which key is struck, and a child will produce the same result, with regard to power, as an older person.

hat I claim, and. desire to secure by Letters Patent, ist In combination with a piano-forte action, the hammer-butt H, plate L, lever P, screw M, and spring N, when constructed and arranged to operate in. the manner and for the purpose set forth.

FREDERICK ROTH.

Vitnesses:

OTTo Lnnuen, ARTHUR NEILL. 

